In the year 2000, per a report by the CDC, the mortality in the US hit a record low rate of 876.3 deaths per population of 100,000 people for the year. In 1999, the mortality rate was 877 per 100,000 people. Of course, we all know, and grieve, what happened in 2001 when over 3000 Americans lost their lives in a matter of an hour.

At any given time from the beginning of the Iraq war back in 2003, we have had over 100,000 troops dedicated to Operation Iraqi Freedom. At the lowest, we had 110K, and in fact now are at 135-160K.

As of this date, March 19, 2006, exactly three years after the war in Iraq began - we have had about 2,323 US military fatalities from both hostile and non-hostile actions.

Using the LOWEST possible rate that was observed in the United States - in the year 2000, at a rate of 876.3 deaths per 100K population, that would come out to a mortality rate of 2629 per 100K population in three years (should that rate have been maintained).

You can clearly see that the rate of US soldiers lost in the Iraq war is MUCH lower than the lowest fatality rate observed in the US in the year 2000. The average fatality rate of OIF soldiers per year is about 774 soldiers per year.